Terrorism and civilian deaths

November made it painfully clear that Pakistan cannot afford half-measures against militancy as civilian fatalities surged by an unforgivable 80% while militants continue to strike with precision where the state is absent. The state proudly points to a 65% decline in security forces' deaths — and yes, the tactical improvement in counter-militancy operations is evident. But when there is a surge in civilian corpses, there is no point in celebrating any improvement.

Ninety-seven militant attacks were recorded in November, up from 89 in October. The bulk occurred in K-P and the former tribal areas. Some 137 militants were killed in K-P and 58 in the tribal belt. Operational capacity exists, but the gains remain tactical. Militants are reorganising and increasingly targeting civilians. The state continues to treat militancy primarily as a security problem. Counter-terror operations are handled by security forces, while political leadership hesitates to confront the ideology and dismantle support networks. K-P has long alternated between engagement and confrontation with militant groups. This inconsistency allows these networks to re-establish themselves.

Policymakers must stop pretending that "measured actions" are good enough. Militancy is not a force to be measured. It needs to be crushed with an iron hand. No tolerance means zero compromise. It means dismantling the recruitment pipelines, shutting down the seminaries that produce extremist foot soldiers, prosecuting financiers and sympathisers, and refusing to treat peace deals as shortcuts. The state must enforce control in all provinces, and remove ideological and financial support structures. There can be no partial solutions.

Pakistan has been here before. We know where appeasement leads, which means there is no middle ground left. Either Pakistan crushes militancy to the bone or it accepts that this country will remain the frontlines of a war we refuse to finish.